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    Comprehensive Reference

    Insurance Appraisal Laws by State: The Complete 50-State Guide

    Every state handles insurance appraisal differently — from whether the award is binding, to who picks the umpire, to what the appraisers are allowed to decide. Whether you're on the policyholder side or the carrier side, use this guide to understand the rules in any state at a glance, or click through for the full breakdown.

    50 States CoveredUpdated Feb 2026
    ArizonaCaliforniaColoradoFloridaGeorgiaIllinoisIowaLouisianaNew YorkNorth CarolinaOklahomaSouth CarolinaTexas

    46

    States with Binding Awards

    4

    Conditional Binding

    0

    Non-Binding States

    5

    Allow Causation (Full/Limited)

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    Showing 50 of 50 states

    Insurance appraisal law comparison by state
    Scope of AppraisalUmpire SelectionWho Can Invoke?Key Statute
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyAla. Code § 27-14-2
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyAlaska Stat. § 21.42
    Arizona
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of damage, not coverage
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither party under standard formA.R.S. § 20-1503
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyArk. Code § 23-79-207
    California
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    ⚠️ Limited
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyCal. Ins. Code § 2071
    Colorado
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyC.R.S. § 10-4-110.3
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyConn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-307
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyDel. Code tit. 18, § 4104
    Florida
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss + causation when intertwined
    Yes
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyFla. Stat. § 627.7015
    Georgia
    ✅ Yes
    		Value and amount, not liability
    No
    		Policy-specific two-appraiser and umpire processPer policy wordingO.C.G.A. § 33-32-1; Rule 120-2-19-.01
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyHaw. Rev. Stat. § 431:10C
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyIdaho Code § 41-1818
    Illinois
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither party215 ILCS 5/143.1
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyInd. Code § 27-1-22-9
    Iowa
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyIowa Code § 515.109
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyK.S.A. § 40-908
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyKRS § 304.14-120
    Louisiana
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    ⚠️ Limited
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyLa. R.S. § 22:1892
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyMe. Rev. Stat. tit. 24-A, § 3002
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyMd. Code, Ins. § 19-210
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyMass. Gen. Laws ch. 175, § 99
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyMCL § 500.2833
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyMinn. Stat. § 65A.01
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyMiss. Code § 83-13-7
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyMo. Rev. Stat. § 379.140
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyMont. Code § 33-24-105
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyNeb. Rev. Stat. § 44-501
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyNRS § 690B.010
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyN.H. Rev. Stat. § 407-C:3
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyN.J.S.A. § 17:36-5.20
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyN.M. Stat. § 59A-18-11
    New York
    ✅ Yes
    		Value, extent, and amount; not coverage
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints after statutory impasseEither party after a covered lossN.Y. Ins. Law §§ 3404, 3408
    North Carolina
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyN.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-44-16
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyN.D. Cent. Code § 26.1-39-20
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyORC § 3929.25
    Oklahoma
    ⚠️ Conditional
    		Amount of loss; policy terms remain
    ⚠️ Limited
    		Two appraisers select; court procedure depends on policyCheck policy; some forms require mutual agreement36 O.S. § 4803(G)
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyORS § 742.243
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither party40 Pa. Stat. § 636
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyR.I. Gen. Laws § 27-5-3.1
    South Carolina
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss, not liability
    No
    		Per policy; Harwell used two appraisers and court-appointed umpirePer policy wordingPolicy terms; S.C. Code § 38-75-20
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyS.D. Codified Laws § 58-10-13
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyTenn. Code § 56-7-803
    Texas
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss + causation when intertwined
    Yes
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyTex. Ins. Code Chapter 1813
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyUtah Code § 31A-21-312
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyVt. Stat. tit. 8, § 3661
    ⚠️ Conditional
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyVa. Code § 38.2-2104
    ⚠️ Conditional
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyRCW § 48.18.520
    ⚠️ Conditional
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyW. Va. Code § 33-17-9
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyWis. Stat. § 631.83
    ✅ Yes
    		Amount of loss only
    No
    		Two appraisers select; court appoints if they disagreeEither partyWyo. Stat. § 26-15-129

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    What Industry Professionals Need to Know About State Appraisal Laws

    Most states treat appraisal as binding on the amount of loss. The majority of states with standard appraisal provisions in their policy forms make the award binding on both parties. However, "binding" means different things in different jurisdictions — some allow broader grounds for challenge than others. Both policyholders and carriers should understand the finality of the process before invoking it.

    The scope question is the biggest variable. The sharpest divide between states is whether appraisers can consider causation. States like Florida have developed extensive case law allowing appraisers to address causation questions when they're intertwined with amount of loss. Other states draw a harder line, limiting appraisers strictly to dollar amounts. This distinction shapes strategy for both the policyholder side and the carrier side on hail, wind, and water damage claims.

    Either party can typically invoke appraisal — and either party may have strategic reasons to do so. In most states, the appraisal clause gives both the policyholder and the insurer the right to demand appraisal. Carriers may invoke appraisal to resolve amount disputes efficiently and avoid litigation. Policyholders may invoke it when they believe the carrier's estimate understates the loss. Understanding when appraisal serves your position is as important as understanding the mechanics.

    Umpire selection is more consistent than you'd expect. Most states follow the same basic framework: the two appraisers try to agree on an umpire, and if they can't, either party can ask a court to appoint one. The differences are in the details — which court, what standard the court applies, and how long the process takes.

    Watch for states with recent legislative or case law changes. Appraisal law is not static. Several states have seen significant court decisions or legislative amendments in the last 2–3 years that have changed the practical landscape for both carriers and policyholders. We update this guide regularly — last updated February 6, 2026.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Insurance appraisal laws change frequently. While we make every effort to keep this information current, we recommend consulting with a licensed attorney, public adjuster, or claims professional in the relevant state for advice specific to your situation. Last updated: February 6, 2026.